Posted on 12/02/2013 3:43:06 PM PST by NYer
Fr. George W. Rutler (The Judge Report, December 1, 2013) writes:
... Without Advent, the only thing to do is to “rush” Christmas, with celebrations without much purpose. That turns Christmas inside out and can even make it depressing. Superficial Christmas is “joy without a cause” as G.K. Chesterton said in 1911 in his epic poem, The Ballad of the White Horse. He also said a couple of years earlier: “There is no more dangerous or disgusting habit than that of celebrating Christmas before it comes.
”Our Lord spoke of people who “loved the dark rather than the light” (John 3:19), and we see that today in those who would ban any mention of Christmas. The tendency to set up Christmas decorations before Christmas is at least a clumsy way of expressing a desire for light rather than dark, but it is futile without a moral awareness of what light and dark are.
Advent is awkward because its mysteries are not the sort of things entertainers dressed as elves sing about. While the Church calls attention to reality, avuncular clergymen often succumb to fantasy themselves, with Christmas parties in Advent and wreaths without reason. Of course, this is illogical, because it contradicts the way the Logos arranged the world. The Logos, or the Word, is Jesus himself, who uttered all things into being by saying, “Fiat” — “Let there be.” And the first thing he let there be was light: “Light from Light” as the Creed chants it. But the only way to recognize the illogic of Christmas without Advent is to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
The choice of darkness rather than light is a preference for the Prince of Darkness rather than Christ the Light. The best way to walk in the Light is to get rid of the darkness in the soul, and so Advent is a prime time for confessing sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then the penitent is re-united with the Light of the World. Christ sheds light on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell, giving moral cogency to the mystery of life itself. “He is before all things, and by him all things are held together" (Colossians 1:17). As the highest truths are very simple, the simplest logic is this: Without the Christ of Christmas, all things fall apart.
You are so correct. The “feast of dedication” sometimes called the “festival of lights” but mostly referred to as Hanukkah began in 165BC as a celebration of the rededication of the Temple after defeating the Greek oppression and desecration of the Temple. To try to claim that it was somehow connected to Christmas is ludicrous.
And still no evidence of basis from scripture.
You may want to do some research on what Jesus said concerning observance.
I wouldn't call all this commercial stuff 'celebrating' Christmas so much as using Christmas for their crass purposes.
When the scholars from most denominations, including Catholic, pretty much argue that we don’t really have the exact date of Jesus’ birth, then calling it “dangerous and disgusting” to celebrate “Christmas before it comes” is a bit over the top.
This idea is simply FR Rutler’s opinion, and it isn’t binding.
Gotta love Freberg.
No, it is not.
John 8:12 - I am the light of the world.
Words spoken at Hanukkah, not at the pagan solstice.
Of course Jesus the light of the world is born on the darkest and longest night.
Don't be silly. That shtick comes right out of Paganism and Mystery religions.
Luke 1:5-13 - Zechariah (a Jewish priest) was in the Holy of Holies, the Day of Atonement when he learned that John the Baptist would be born. The day of Atonement occurs at the vernal equinox, and John the Baptist was born nine months later on the summer solstice. John decreases (the light and days shorten)his influence, preaching etc., to make way for Christ who increases - the light and days lengthen after the winter solstice. Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant (Luke 1:36) at the time of the annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel, which puts Jesus conception at the vernal equinox - March 25th, 9 months before the birth of Christ.
You may want to reevaluate - No Holy Day has anything to do with solar timing at all. They are governed by the moon... One can determine the conception of John by the completion of Zechariah's course of service - John was very likely born on Passover (fulfilling the 'Elijah' expectation at Passover), which puts Yeshua's conception at Hanukkah, and His birth on Sukkot. One cannot confirm that perfectly, but that's where the numbers work, and it is natural to assume the purpose of the Holy Days that line up therewith prophetically, and according to the Scriptures...
As far as the sheep in Bethlehem, to this day in Israel shepherds are seen with their sheep any month of the year looking for winter pasture; winter pasture is to be found in the eastern hills of Bethlehem. Sheepfolds are still located there. The rainy season is ending by the end of December.
Too bad that doesn't matter, as the birth occurred well before that (albeit that I deny the premise anyway). And it makes a whole lot more sense that Caesar would conduct his survey in conjunction with one of the Holy Days that required Temple attendance. It was Sukkot, and He was born in a Sukkah...
Jesus would never have been born during a Jewish feast because he is the new wine and Christianity replaces Judaism.
They are not 'Jewish' Feasts. They are the Feasts of YHWH, and their purpose was ordained at the Creation (see moedim). The purpose of those days are precisely to herald the things of YHWH. It is what they are *FOR*. It is an absurdity to assume that the Messiah and GREAT Prophet, whom all of Israel was to listen to would be concerned with any other days. A further absurdity is to consider that YHWH would have anything at all to do with the 'birthday' of all his enemies (Nimrod, Baal, Marduk, Osirus, Zeus, Apollo, etc.) A simple and honest look at the remarkable precision with which Yeshua fulfilled the spring Feasts should leave very little doubt as to the same purposeful fulfillment for the fall feasts. A further study of fulfillment on those very days through history will lend even more credence. Track the 9th of Av as an easy beginning...
Good grief! I guess you don’t celebrate the birthdays of your loved ones, either. Can’t someone do something out of LOVE without you people complaining about “God commanding feast days?”
I suppose it comes down to if a person wants to make up his own religion or find and follow what God taught. I personally want to know and follow what God taught.
Does your “finding and following what God taught” bar you from LOVING Jesus?
Not only loving Him but following what He taught to the exclusion of all others. Loving Him enough to understand that when He said not to do what the pagans do in worshiping Him I understand and follow that admonition. Those who don’t love Him in that way will do whatever they see fit.
How is celebrating the birthday of someone you LOVE “pagan?”
Really, what’s wrong with you? Just because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son doesn’t mean you should in any way celebrate the event.....just accept this Greatest of all possible Gifts and move along, nothing to see here
“...not Jewish feast, feast of Yahweh...”
This is very muddled - Christianity is not a diffused mixture of Judaism and Christianity. The new Testament fulfilled the old - it is integral but there is not a fusion of the two.
Luke Chapter 20 verse 22
In like manner , the chalice also, after he had supped saying: This is the chalice the NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD, which will be shed for you.
This is a clear demarcation.
“...Schtick comes right out of paganism?...” I beg your pardon, but:
It comes out of John Chapter 1 verse 4
In him was life: and the life was the light of men.
This is sacred scripture!!!
Can. 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.
Well, if you LOVE someone, you don’t mind going to church to worship that Person, now do you?! I guess if you don’t LOVE God, you will think of any reason at all not to worship Him. Commandments have no bearing one way or the other when someone LOVES someone. And, yes, the Church does command us to worship God on certain occasions. But, then again it is only reiterating the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God.” and “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” Those were given by God Himself to us. Only those who don’t LOVE Him see this as a problem.
Oh nice rabbit trail you got there! I’m not going to follow down that trail however. Trying to equate the ten commandments and God’s Sabbath day to what the Catholic Church has done can’t be found in scripture.
That is the reasoning the Church gives, as found in the Catechism.
I don’t have time to discuss this with you anymore, anyway. I would have to instruct you on 2,000 years of Church history, and it would be pointless, since you don’t want to learn. Have fun in your ignorance ...
Speaks volumes when someone is scared off as soon as you brought up Scripture
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